Babesiosis | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/disease-control/tick-bite-illnesses/babesiosis
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
Babesiosis | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Babesiosis
Tick Bite Illnesses
Prevent Tick Bites & Tick Bite Illnesses
Tick Activity in Vermont
Tickborne Disease Resources for Health Professionals
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Hard Tick Relapsing Fever
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
Powassan Virus
Babesiosis in Vermont is caused by an infection with a microscopic blood parasite called
Babesia microti
. These parasites can be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (
Ixodes scapularis
), the same tick that transmits Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Babesiosis can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and rarely by congenital transmission, from an infected mother to her baby (during pregnancy or delivery).
Explore Babesiosis Trends
Babesiosis is
reportable in Vermont
. We collect and analyze data on babesiosis cases to keep Vermonters informed of their risk so they can take necessary precautions. See below for more information about common symptoms, cases over time, who gets babesiosis, and when and where the risk is highest in Vermont.
Interact with tick bite illness data
Important Links
Babesiosis (CDC)
Symptoms
Many people who have been infected with
Babesia
do not experience any symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they typically begin one to four weeks after a tick bite and can include fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. Babesiosis can also cause a type of anemia, which makes a person develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and dark urine.
Anyone can get sick with babesiosis, but people who have compromised immune systems, kidney or liver disease, those who do not have a spleen, and older adults are at greater risk for serious complications, including death.
Babesiosis can be diagnosed using blood tests. The disease can be successfully treated with the appropriate medical care.
Who is at Risk in Vermont?
Anyone can get babesiosis, however, 70% of cases reported to the Health Department are in Vermonters 55 years of age or older. Most cases have occurred in residents of the state’s southern-most counties: Bennington, Rutland, Windsor and Windham.
Trends over Time
Babesiosis is the third most common tickborne disease in Vermont. Yearly reported cases of babesiosis in Vermont increased from two cases in 2011 (incidence = 0.3 per 100,000 population) to 34 cases in 2019 (5.4 per 100,000 population), a 1,602% increase in incidence.
Case numbers are low in 2020 and 2021 due to decreased reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When are Vermonters at Risk?
People may be at risk for babesiosis whenever blacklegged ticks are active, but most cases are reported in June through August.
Preventing Babesiosis
The best way to prevent babesiosis is to
prevent tick bites
.
Topics:
Outdoor Safety
|
Tickborne Diseases
Last Updated:
June 4, 2025
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Babesiosis
Tick Bite Illnesses
Prevent Tick Bites & Tick Bite Illnesses
Tick Activity in Vermont
Tickborne Disease Resources for Health Professionals
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Hard Tick Relapsing Fever
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
Powassan Virus
Babesiosis in Vermont is caused by an infection with a microscopic blood parasite called
Babesia microti
. These parasites can be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (
Ixodes scapularis
), the same tick that transmits Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Babesiosis can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and rarely by congenital transmission, from an infected mother to her baby (during pregnancy or delivery).
Explore Babesiosis Trends
Babesiosis is
reportable in Vermont
. We collect and analyze data on babesiosis cases to keep Vermonters informed of their risk so they can take necessary precautions. See below for more information about common symptoms, cases over time, who gets babesiosis, and when and where the risk is highest in Vermont.
Interact with tick bite illness data
Important Links
Babesiosis (CDC)
Symptoms
Many people who have been infected with
Babesia
do not experience any symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they typically begin one to four weeks after a tick bite and can include fever, chills, sweats, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, or fatigue. Babesiosis can also cause a type of anemia, which makes a person develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and dark urine.
Anyone can get sick with babesiosis, but people who have compromised immune systems, kidney or liver disease, those who do not have a spleen, and older adults are at greater risk for serious complications, including death.
Babesiosis can be diagnosed using blood tests. The disease can be successfully treated with the appropriate medical care.
Who is at Risk in Vermont?
Anyone can get babesiosis, however, 70% of cases reported to the Health Department are in Vermonters 55 years of age or older. Most cases have occurred in residents of the state’s southern-most counties: Bennington, Rutland, Windsor and Windham.
Trends over Time
Babesiosis is the third most common tickborne disease in Vermont. Yearly reported cases of babesiosis in Vermont increased from two cases in 2011 (incidence = 0.3 per 100,000 population) to 34 cases in 2019 (5.4 per 100,000 population), a 1,602% increase in incidence.
Case numbers are low in 2020 and 2021 due to decreased reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When are Vermonters at Risk?
People may be at risk for babesiosis whenever blacklegged ticks are active, but most cases are reported in June through August.
Preventing Babesiosis
The best way to prevent babesiosis is to
prevent tick bites
.
Topics:
Outdoor Safety
|
Tickborne Diseases
Last Updated:
June 4, 2025